News in Brief from the SBD

BANK SHOTS: Wachovia
Corp. announced a five-year sponsorship agreement with University
of North Carolina athletics that makes it the Tar Heels' official financial
services provider. The agreement includes sponsorship of the "Inside Carolina
Basketball with Roy Williams" television show. Wachovia was also set to announce
an agreement with the University of Virginia's athletic department. For more
on Wachovia, see New
York Giants sign Wachovia.

WHAT ABOUT MARTINA?
In a Q&A with New York Times Magazine, Martina Navratilova, who has

Navratilova

endorsement deals with Subaru and Prince rackets, said: "You'd
think [more] advertisers would want me because they would be trying to hit the
middle-age market. Women my age are the ones who are buying clothes —
they have the money and the kids. But I guess advertisers haven't figured that
out."

SPORTS MEDIA

GOOD NIGHT:ESPN cited low ratings in canceling "RPM 2Night." The show is airing only
on Sundays, and the last broadcast will be Nov. 9. "RPM 2Night" is averaging a 0.23
(194,000 households) cable rating this year, down from a 0.37 (285,000 households)
rating two years ago.

Meanwhile, last Tuesday's premiere episode of "Playmakers" on ESPN earned a 2.4
rating (2,079,000 average households), nearly nine times larger than the comparable
Tuesday time slot a year ago. While the network said that the show scored well among
male demos, NFL players didn't seem impressed. The Pittsburgh Steelers' Tommy
Maddox told a Pittsburgh newspaper, "It was horrible." Steelers wide receiver
Antwaan Randle El added, "It's terrible. My wife was like, 'It better not
be [like that].' "

LEBRON'S PORTFOLIO:LeBronJames.com relaunched
with a multimillion-dollar sponsorship from Winner International, which
signed a three-year deal to promote its new rechargeable Juice Batteries on
the site, according to espn.com.

LEAGUES & GOVERNING BODIES

AROUND THE NHL:
Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos told The (Raleigh) News & Observer
that he is considering selling part or even all of the hockey team, depending on
the outcome of the NHL's labor negotiations. Karmanos: "From the Hurricanes' point
of view, we couldn't keep operating a team under the current CBA."

Meanwhile, Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs discussed the NHL's labor situation
and was quoted in The Boston Globe as saying, "The commissioner is dedicated to
having cost certainty when it comes to a labor agreement. Labor is the largest cost
we have in operating a team."

FRANCHISES

SENATORIAL PRIVILEGE: Ontario-based Biovail Chairman
and CEO Eugene Melnyk completed his purchase of the Ottawa Senators and
Corel Centre. Melnyk paid a reported C$130 million purchase price ($93 million
in U.S. currency) for both properties. The Eagles will perform a private concert
for Senators season-ticket holders, sponsors and suite holders Oct. 8 at the
Corel Centre.

JETS RUN REVERSE: Facing
a local media backlash, the New York Jets altered their $50 fee to remain on
the team's season-ticket wait list so that the payment will now be credited
against the eventual purchase of season tickets. Jets President Jay Cross
said, "After evaluating the feedback from our fans, we realize a change is in
order."

DONTRELLE DOWNTIME:
Agent Matt Sosnick has asked the Marlins to decrease the amount
of marketing around his client, All-Star pitcher Dontrelle Willis. Sosnick
told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, "Dontrelle does nothing else except give
interviews and pitch and sleep." Marlins VP of communications P.J. Loyello
told The Miami Herald that he would begin turning down many of the requests
for appearances for Willis.

NAMES IN THE NEWS

RED, RED WINE:
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife have opened a small vineyard
in the Sonoma Valley of California. Wine Spectator reported that the couple joined
with Beringer to create a limited-edition red wine that will debut next month
at $75 a bottle.